Fly-trap.



J. P. DAVIS.

FLY TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT-7.1912.

' Witnesses Inventor Attorneys U 1TB STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JEPTHA 1?. DAVIS, 0F IBOONEVILLE, ARKAN$AS.

FLY-TRAP.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEITUA 1. Davis, a citizen of the United States,residing at Booneville, in the county of Logan and State of Arkansas,have invented a new and useful Fly Irap, of which the following is aspecification.

The objects of the invention are to provide a fly trap which may readilybe cleaned and which may be fashioned at a trifling expense.

The invention aims, further, to provide a fly trap, the foraminouscovering of which constitutes means for maintaining the upper and lowerframes assembled with the corner posts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fly trap, the receptacleportion of which may be swung readily to one side, to permit a cleaningof the trap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fly trap having in itstop, a movable closure member cooperating with a conical leader which islocated in the base of the trap.

The invent-ion aims further, to increase the utility of devices of thattype to which the present invention appertains.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterclescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection; Fig. 3 is a top plan; Fig. t is a cross section; Fig. 5 is aperspective showing one end of the corner posts; and Fig. 6 is atransverse section through the frame forming strips and the corner post.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a receptacle which isdenoted generally by the numeral 1, the same comprising a plurality ofcorner posts 2, terminated at their ends in reduced extensions 3,defining transverse shoulders 1. Upper and lower frames are provided,the frame comprising primary strips 5 and secondary strips 6. The strips5 and 6 abut at their edges against the shoulder 47, the strips 5 and 6abutting laterally against the side faces of the exten- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1.9.1.4.

Serial No. 724,406.

sions 3. The primary strips 5 extend the full width of the structure,and the secondary strips (3 abut at their ends against the inner facesof the primary strips 5, as will be umlerstoml best from a comparison ofFigs. 1 and (S. If desired, securing elements 8 may be extended throughthe strips 5 and (3, into engagement with the extensions 3 of the cornerposts 2. The posts 2 and the strips 5 and 6 are surrounded upon theirouter faces by a foramiimus covering 9, and when the covering 9 is inplace, the covering will serve to hold the strips 5 and 6 engaged witheach other and engaged with the parts 3 and st of the corner posts 2.

The invention further includes a base 10 having a central opening 11,the base 10 being secured to the receptacle 1 by means of one or morehinges 12 which are united with the lower frame of the receptacle. Alatch, taking the form of a hook and eye 14 or like structure, isemployed for securing the free edge of the base 10 to the lower frame ofthe receptacle. A cone-shaped leader, open at its apex, is provided, theleader 15 having a flange 16 which is applied to the upper face of thebase 10, about the periphery of the opening 11 therein, securingelements 17 being passed through the flange 16 into engagement with thebase 10, to hold the leader 15 in place. The leader 15 is preferablyfashioned from fine mesh wire screen. The base 10 carries depending legs18, whereby the base is spaced apart from the support on which the trapis mounted.

The invention further includes a top 19, securing elements 20 beingpassed through the top 19, into engagement with the upper ends of theextensions 3 of the corner posts 2. The top 19, therefore, is rigidlyassembled with the receptacle. In the central portion of the top 19 andalined vertically with the apex of the leader 1.5 is an opening 21. Theopening 21 is controlled by a closure 22, mounted to slide upon theupper face of the top 19, the closure 22 being held in place pivotallyby means of a screw, pin or like element which passes through aprojecting car 22', formed at the periphery of the closure 22. A bail 24is shown, the same being pivotally engaged with cars 25 which areinserted into the upper face of the top 19.

In practical operation, the bait is placed within the receptacle, orupon the support,

beneath the base 10, and the insects being attracted by the bait, willpass beneath the base 10 and will fiy upwardly through the leader 15into the interior of the receptacle 1, from which they will not retreat,through the leader 15, by reason of the fact that the opening at theapex of the leader 15 is relatively small. Access may be had to theinterior of the receptacle 1 by disconnecting the hook and eye union14:, whereupon the receptacle 1 may be swung to one side readily, uponthe hinges 12.

The pivotal connect-ion 12 between the tubular body and the base of thetrap, and the pivotal mounting 23 of the closure 22 lie upon oppositesides of the openings 21 and 11. As a consequence, when the tubular bodyis swung toone side, to remove dead flies and to remove old bait, theclosure 22 will remain in place across the opening 21 and consequently,the flies will not escape from the top of the trap. The eyes in whichthe bail 24L is mounted constitute stops adapted to engage the peripheryof the closure 22. The closure 22, therefore, may be moved to a limitedextent in opposite direct-ions, but a portion of the closure 22 will bemaintained at all times above the apex of the leader 15. At times it isdesirable to renew the bait by inserting the same through the opening21. Because the closure 22 is at all times maintained above the apex ofthe leader 15 in the manner hereinbefore described, no portion of thebait, when introduced into the trap through the opening 21 will passdownwardly through the interior of the leader 15 and through the trap.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A trap comprisinga base having an opening; a leader secured to the base about theopening; a tubular body resting on the base and having an opening in itstop; a closure for the opening and mounted to move parallel to the top;a hinge uniting the body with the base; and a pivot element uniting theclosure with the top of the body, the pivot element and the hinge lyingupon opposite sides of a line perpendicular to the base, whereby whenthe body is swung upon the hinge into an open position, the closure willremain gravitationally over the opening and prevent the escape ofinsects from the trap.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy Signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 0. MAY, HARLAN MAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

